The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense of Belgium, signed this morning a Memorandum of Understanding which structures and deepens the already excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. The signature took place in the Egmont Palace in Brussels.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence Didier Reynders is deeply concerned about the announcement made by the United States regarding unprecedented measures against the International Criminal Court.

In the framework of the third international Brussels Conference on Syria (Supporting the future of Syria and the Region), which ends today, Belgium pledged 24,3 million euros for 2019 in humanitarian aid for Syria and countries of the region (Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq).

At the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence Didier Reynders organized a conference on the topic: "Global approach in security: Diplomacy - Defence - Development: word to the women" at the Egmont Palace in Brussels today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defense Didier Reynders is participating in the 40th session of the High Level Segment of the Human Rights Council today, which will meet in Geneva (Switzerland) until 22 March.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo made a field visit to Mosul together with the European Commissioner for Human Aid Stylianides. From 2014 to 2017 the Iraqi city was in the hands of ISIS. Because of violent clashes, almost one million people were forced to flee Mosul. 400.000 of them have still not returned. Minister De Croo has announced that our country will make 7.6 million euros available for humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo talked with Iraqi President Salih, with Prime Minister Mahdi and with the Iraqi Minister of Planning in Baghdad. Minister De Croo is on a working visit in Iraq together with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides. They discussed the battle against ISIS, the humanitarian situation and the reconstruction of the country.

HRM Princess Astrid will lead, as representative of the King, a Belgian Economic Mission to Mexico from this Saturday, February 16 to Saturday, February 30. With 280 participants, and events spread on the whole week, first in Mexico City and then in Monterrey, this mission will be almost twice as large as the last princely mission organized in this country 10 years ago. The number of participants and the density of the program reflect the high interest of our companies, universities and research centres for the opportunities offered by the 15th largest economy in the world.